Bili-of-fare indicator



(No Model.)

F. H. KEIFER & G. H. THOMPSON. BILL 0F PARE 111111111111011.

ngi.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. KEIFER AND GEORGE H. THOMPSON, OE HOWARD, KANSAS.

BiLL-OF-FARE INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,871, dated May 31, 1892.

Application tiled February 29, 1892. Serial No. 423,243. (No inodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK I-I. KEIFER and GEORGE H. THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Howard, in the county of Elk and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Novelty Bill-of-Fare Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in indicators for bills of fare.

rPhe object of the present invention is to provide for bills of fare av simple and inexpensive indicator which will facilitate ordering and which will enable orders to be taken without mistakes.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure-l is a plan view of an indicator constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view 0f a portion of the indicator. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View. Fig. 4 is an end View.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a bill-of-fare indicator comprising a casing adapted to hold a bill of fare 2 and provided with a series of openings through which the printed matter on the bill of fare is exposed, and a series of slides 3, adapted to close the openings, whereby only the dishes ordered will be exposed. The casing consists of three plates of equal size, a rear impcrforate plate Li, forming a backing for the bill of fare, and slotted plates 5 and 6, between which are arranged the slides, which are provided with knobs 7. The slots 8 and 9 of the front plates 5 and 6 register and vary in length to suit the printed matter of a bill of fare. The slides are of a length to close or cover slots, and the knobs 7 project through the latter, and are adapted to be readily moved by the finger of a person. The plates are secured together at their sides, and the ends of the casing are open to enable a bill of fare to be readily inserted or removed. The slides which are mounted between the plates are held in position and guided by rivets or other suitable means.

In practice a bill of fare will be placed before each person, who" may readily indicate his order by covering the slots and printed mattei' of the dishes which he does not wish, and leaving exposed only the desired ones.

It will be seen that the indicator is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construe tion and is adapted to facilitate greatly the ordering of dishes.

The plates 5 and 6 are spaced at the ends of the holder by transverse strips l0, which enable the slides to move freely between the plates.

Vhat we claim is-L- A bill-offare indicator consisting, essentially, of a series of three equal-sized plates, the rear plate being imperforate and serving as a backing and the two other plates having series of registering slots ofvarying lengths, a series of slides mounted between the two plates and of a length to cover the slots and having operating'knobs, the bill of fare being inserted between the backing-plate and the slotted plates, so that the printing thereon may be seen through the slots thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses. 

